Pattern control arrangement for a circular knitting machine



PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1960 March 5, 1963 J. A SCHAEDER ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 5, 1963 J. A. SCHAEDER ETAL 3,

PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w Q m F/G. /2 2 606 /.$0 2/ 80a FIG. 8 i i z March 1963 J. A SCHAEDER ETAL 3,

PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed D90. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GJO PM United States Patent 3,679,775 PATTEliN CQNTRGL GEMENT FGR A CZRQULAR KNETTING MAtlm Johann Albrecht Schaeder, Merzhausen, near Freiburg im Breisgau, and Richard Schmidt, Stuttgart-=Vaihingen, Germany, assignors to Firma Franz Murat K411, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany Filed Dec. 21, 196i), Ser. No. 77,339 Claims priority, application Germany July 16, E56 29 Claims. (Cl. 66-50) The present invention relates to a pattern control arrangement for knitting machines, and more particularly to an electrically controlled pattern wheel in which the jacks are set in accordance with a selectable pattern by electric impulses.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of my co-pendin application entitled Pattern Control Arrangement for Circular Knitting Machines and the Like, Serial No. 671,928, filed on .luly 15, 1957, and now abandoned.

With circular knitting machines there are a plurality of operating stations distributed about the axis of the machine and a pattern wheel is located at each operating station. These pattern wheels form assemblies which influence the needles of the rotating needle cylinder so as to provide the most varied patterns in the Work.

Such a pattern wheel has an annular toothed periphery and the teeth of the periphery of the pattern wheel extend into the spaces between adjacent needle butts so that during rotation of the needle cylinder the pattern wheel will also turn since the teeth at the outer periphery of the pattern wheel in effect mesh with the needles. In the spaces between its teeth, the pattern wheel is provided with a plurality of grooves distributed about its axis and needle-influencing jacks are respectively shiftable in these grooves and engage with their upper edges the butts of the needles so as to raise the latter and thus make a pre determined pattern. The turning axis of the pattern wheel is inclined with respect to the turning axis of the needle cylinder and as a result of the inclination between these axes, the needle butts which are engaged by the jacks of the pattern wheel will be raised during the turning of the needle cylinder and pattern wheel.

In order to raise the needles of the needle cylinder according to a predetermined program so as to provide a desired pattern, the jacks must be arranged on the pattern wheel in a predetermined manner.

The jacks which are in the form of thin steel plates are conventionally located in the grooves of the pattern wheel and are fixed thereto by a cover which is fixed to the pattern wheel and engages the jacks to maintain the latter on the pattern wheel. In order to change the arrangement of the jacks on a given pattern wheel it is necessary to remove the pattem wheel from its support and, after removal of the cover, the jacks are rearranged according to the new pattern, whereupon the cover is replaced and the pattern wheel is again placed on its rotatable support.

At the present time it is not possible to change the positions of the jacks on a pattern wheel while the knitting machine is operating. Thus, it is not possible with known pattern arrangements to change the pattern while a course is bein knitted or to change a pattern during the knitting of an elongated tube of fabric. It is possible to change the pattern from course to course by having diderent pattern Wheels operate on the difierent courses, the pattern Wheels at the different operating stations having different arrangements of their jacks. However, with this arrangement it is only possible to distribute a pattern over a predetermined number of courses, this number being equal to the number of pattern wheels and to the number of operating stations. For example, if a circular knitting machine has six operating stations with six pattern wheels dfildfild atonted Mar. 5, i953 2 respectively located at these stations, then each of six successive courses may dilterently be patterned. However after the knitting of six courses it is necessary to repeat the pattern of the first course.

It is not possible with the known patterning arrangements to stop the operation of the pattern wheel while the lciitting machine operates so as to knit an unpatterned portion for a controlled length of time and then to again start the operation of the pattern wheel, and it is also not possible to continuously change the arrangement of the jacks on the pattern wheel during operation of the knitting machine.

It is thus apparent that with the present state of the art the patterning possibilities are greatly limited not only with respect to the patterning itself but also with respect to stopping and starting of the patterning operations while the knitting machine operates.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks by providing a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines or the like and capable of having the arrangement of its needle-Lafittencing jacks changed at will during the operation of the knitting machine.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a patterning arrangement which enables the pattern of a single pattern Wheel to be continuously changed so that no pattern has to be repeated during each revolution of the pattern wheel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a patterning arrangement capable of being reset during operation of the knitting machine in any selected fashion with a structure which is exceedingly simple and reliable in operation.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a jack-selecting arrangement which is electrically operated and which has eiectromagnets small enough to operate in an extremely short period of time.

A further obiect or the present invention is to provide a patterning arrangement wherein the selection of the pattern is electromagnetically controlled but wherein the main part of the movement of the jacks is brought about mechanically and the jacks are mechanically held in operative position.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines or the like: According to one embodiment, this arrangement includes a support means and a carrier means rotatabiy carried by said support means. This carrier means carries needle-influencing elements, hereinafter called jacks, and supports the same for movement between noperative and operating positions, the needle-influencing elements in their operating positions shifting the needles to produce a desired pattern during rotation of the carrier means. An electromagnetic control means is located adjacent the carrier means for acting directly or indirectly on the jacks during rotation of the carrier means to cause selected jacks to at least start to move toward their operating positions.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, stationary cam means are provided which have a gap opposite the electromagnetic control means, and when each jack passes the gap, an associated moving element, preferably in the form of a springy member, is controlled by the action of the electromagnetic means to either pass through the gap to effect shifting of the associated jack to an operating position, or to further proceed along the cam means in an inoperative position.

Additional cam means are provided for returning to the inoperative position those jacks which were advanced to the operating position so that for each revolution of the pattern wheel, a new pattern may be selected.

'"fiappendedclaims.

-as' to its construction audits method of operat on; to

v In one embodiment of the invention, the electromagneticmeans controls a blocking leverwhich is movable between a gap-closing position, and a retracted position permitting passage of springy members through the gap, such springy members being in tensioned condition when arriving at the gap due to the action of cam means.- In

-..another embodiment ofthe. invention, the electromagnetic means acts on springy wires to move-thesame through the gap to an intermediate position from which they are: moved to an end position when passing along a-control cam surface, and in such end position of the --springy members, correlated jacks, ,arepushed by the "1.88.1116 tothe opera-ting position.

. In a. further embodiment of the invention, two electro- Lmagnetic. means are provided, on opposite sides of the gap. One electromagnetic means, when energized,

The novel features which areconsidered as character- "iStic.'f0'r.the invention are setforth in particular in the The invention itself, however,--both "'gether. with-additional objectsand advantages thereof,

a will be bestunderstood from -.the following description of specific embodiments when read inconnectionwith the'accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view ofa pattern wheel 1 according tothe present invention, mainly "shown insection along line 1-4 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pattern'wheelsshown in FIG. 1 Withthe cover plate omitted;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pattern wheel of FIG. 1, the section being taken on line III-411 FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken online IV-IV in FIG. 2;

" FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on-line V--V in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-'-'-VI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line War-v11 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a jack in its operating position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pattern wheel according to a-modified embodiment of the present invention, the section'bein'g taken on line IX.IX

- in FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of the pattern wheel shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view corre sponding to FIG. 9 but illustrating another modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation'of a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary schematic plan view illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in'FIGS. -l to 8, asbest seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support of the pattern wheel includes a part 104a with an oblique face, a support plate-104, and shaft portion 4 having a threaded portion onto which the threaded bore 5a of a cover plate is screwed. The edge of the circular plate '104 projects beyond the other parts of the device in order to protect the jacks, but at an operating station A," see FIG. 2, the periphery of plate 104 is cut off along a chord 104E; to facilitate the operation of the jacks on the cylinder needles of the knitting machine.

"The oblique face of'member ltla permits the mounting of shaft 4 in a position inclined to the axis of rotation of the needle, cylinder.

" The pattern-wheel proper is mounted for rotation on shaft. portion 4, and includes a carrier means having a tubular bushing 3a surrounding shaft 4, a floor portion 3, anda clamping ring 7 which is secured by screws 7a to the floor portion 3.

The outer periphery of the floor portion 3 has radial slots defining teeth 1..which extend into the spaces between the shanks. of the needles of needle cylinder of the circularknitting machine, so .thatwhen the needle cylinder rotates, the; pattern wheel also rotates about haft 4.

.Thefloor portion 3 of the. pattern wheel isformed in its upper face with a plurality of radial-grooves3b re spectively receiving the jacks 2 which are in the form of thin plates having butts 2, and projecting portions 2" which cooperate with the butts "130a'of the cylinder needles 130, as shown in-FIG. 8. However, it-will be understood that jacks 2 only cooperate with the cylinsder needles 130 if the jacks are in-anadvanced operating position. Jacks 2 in operating; position; control the needles to knit in accordance with the ;pattern ;selectedby placing selected jacks in the advancedoperating position. .Jacks.2 are shiftable-throngh a relatively short distance inthe-radial grooves 3b between an inner inoperative position and an outeroperating pos t on.

A plurality of springy members in the form of angular wires 6 are clamped-to-the. pattermwheel- The springy wire members 6'have legs6a1which;are-. disposed. on the recessed surface 3c. of the floor portion 3, and are clamped tothe "same by the ring 7.}, ;'Il1e other legs 6b are respectively located in grooves 3b so that each springy member 6 cooperateswith. the butt 2' ofthe jack 2 located in the same groove, 31). The legs 65 have free endportions 6c. rojecting.,:beyond..--the butts 2'.

As shown in FIG. 4, the legs ea'and. 6b extend ,substantially at right angles-to each other when springy members 6 are-not tensioned.

The free end portions. 60 of thegspringymembers 6 are located in the region of cam means 8.,and 9:which 6b tend to return to the untensioned position shown in FIG. 4.

The end 9c of cam 9, which is also theend of camsurface 9a, defines with the end 8' of cam 8, a'gap-IO which .has a width slightly greater than the thickness of leg portion 6c to permit portion 60 topass. through .gap. 10 and to assume again the untensioned position or FIG. 4. However, a blocking lever 12 closes gap 10 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 so thatv the end portions 60 can only move through. gap 10 if lever 12 is moved to the position shown in brokenlines in FIG. 2, as will be described hereinafter in greaterdetail.

Those end portions 6c which have passed throughgap It) will be engaged by the cam surface 8b. of cam 8, as shown in FIG. 6. Cam surface 8b rises gradually so that legs 6b are further displaced While moving along cam surface 8b to the operating station A- Legs 6b act on the butts of jacks 2, so that the same are shifted to the advanced operating position as shown in FIG. 6. in which they may act on the cylinder needles 130, as shown in FIG. 8. Further turning movement of the pattern wheel will bring the end portion 6c of each operative springy member 6 to the point 8k of cam 8 where the legs 6b are free to return to the untensioned position shown in FIG. 4. During further turning movement of the pattern wheel, and shortly before reaching gap 10, end portion 60 will again engage cam surface 9aand be tensioned, as explained with-reference to FIG. 5.

Those end portions 60 which are preventedbythe gaplt), slide from blocking portion'12a onto the inner cam surface 8:: where they are permitted to return to the untensioned position, as shown in FIG. 7. After the end point 5k of cam 8, all springy members are in the untensioned position shown in FIG. 4, and all spring members are tensioned by cam surface 9a shortly before reaching gap it A ring member 14 is secured to cover 4, and has a lower portion slidably guiding jacks 2. Blocking lever 12 is mounted on ring member 14 for turning movement about a pivot 11 which is screwed into a portion of ring .ember 14. Lever 12 is angular, and its blocking portion 12a is curved so that it is movable past the rear face of cam 9 between the blocking position closing gap 16, and the inoperative position shown in broken lines in PEG. 2. As best seen in FIG. 3, a pin 13 is secured to blocking lever 2.2, and projects through a slot 5a in cover 5. A coil spring 131 is secured to a hook 13:: on pin 13, and also to a small bracket 132 which is secured by screw 132:: to cover 5. Spring 131 biases lever 12 to assume the position in which the gap is open for passage of the end portions 60 of the springy member 6. An eiectromagnet including pole shoes 133 and 13 and a winding 135 is mounted by screws 136 on a bracket 13", which is secured by screws 138 to cover 5. The pole shoes 133, 134 have points located directly opposite pin 13 so that the pin is attracted when winding 135 is energized, and moves together with blocking lever 12 to the position in which blocking portion 12a of blocking lever 12 closes gap 10.

The pattern wheel arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 operates in the following manner: When the needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine rotates, the pattern Wheel also rotates due to the meshing engagement between the teeth 1 with the needles 139 of the needle cylinder. The thickness and the pitch of teeth 1 are chosen in accordance with the dimensions of the needle cylinder. During rotation of the pattern wheel in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 2, the jacks Z and the sprin y members 6 arrive in the region of cam 9. The egs 6b of the springy members are untensioned. The jacks 2 are either in advanced operating position, or in retracted inoperative position. Those jacks 2 which are in the advanced operating positions, engage with their butts 2 the cam surface 95 of cam and are gradually shifted to the retract-ed inoperative position shown in FIG. 5 before arriving in the region of the gap 1%. At the same time, all springy members approaching the gap 19 are tensioned, as shown in FIG. 5. As the springy members successively arrive at gap ii}, the winding 135 of the electromagnet receives either a control impulse and is energized, or remains de-energized.

If the electromagnet is tie-energized, the end portion 6c of leg 6b of the respective springy member can pass through the gap to be engaged by the gradually rising cam surface 8b which shifts leg 6b to the tensioned position shown in FIG. 6 in which leg 61; engages butt 2 of jack 2 associated therewith so that jack 2 is shifted to the operating position in which it cooperates with a butt 139a of a cylinder needle 39 to raise the same.

If the electromagnet receives a control impulse at the moment in which another springy member 6 passes the gap, the gap 19 is closed, and the respective end portion 60 is engaged by the inner cam surface 3a, as shown in PEG. 7 and passes along the same until it reaches point 8k of cam 3. Springy members 6 which are restrained by blocking portion 12a and cam surface do, have no influence on the associated jacks, so that the same remain in the inoperative position.

It will be noted that the arrangement of blocking lever 12 is such that it has to turn through a very small angle to close or open, respectively, gap it In circular knitting macfnnes of the type to which the present invention relates, it is important that the jacks are operated in an extremely short period of time. Thus, it is not possible to have a very large electromagnet operating on lever 12. A large electromagnet requires a longer time for energizing and de-energizing, so that it could not operate at the high frequency required for controlling the springy members 6 during rotation of the pattern wheel. Since lever 12 is relatively small and light, and moves only through a very short distance, a small electromagnet can be used, which is rapidly energized and dc-energized within the available short period of time.

in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the electromagnet indirectly controls the springy members 6 through lever 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the electromagnet acts directly on the springy members 6 so that the electromagnet requires even less power in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 and in this manner an even faster operation is possible. The same reference numerais are used in the following description of modified embodiments to designate elements corresponding to elements in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The springy members 6 of FIGS. 9 and 10 are identical with those of FIG. 1 and have free end portions 60. The pattern Wheel itself as well as the cover 5 and the teeth 1 and jacks 2 are all identical with those of FIG. 1. The cover 5 of FIG. 9 fixedly carries at its underside a cam 9' having a cam surface 9a for guiding the end portions 60 of springy members 6 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in which the legs 6b are tensioned. In the same way as in FIGS. 1 and 2, an end 9c of the cam 9' defines with the end 8' of a cam 8 the gap 10 beneath the cover 5 through which the free ends 6:: of selected springy members 6 are movable. The cam 55 of FIGS. 9 and 10 is identical with cam 8 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 10 clearly shows the end 8k of the cam 3 distant from the gap Til. Thus, when a free end portion 60 of a springy member 6 moves through the gap it? to an intermediate position, it is engaged by the outer rising cam surface 8b of the cam 8 so as to be moved away from the axis of rotation of the pattern wheel to an end position as shown in FIG. 6 in which the jacks 2 are moved to their operating position by legs 6b. It will be noted from the positions of the ends 8' and 9c of cams S and 9' with respect to each other that only an extremely small radial movement of each end 60 of the springy members 6 is required in order to cause these springy members to move to the intermediate position and to come into engagement with the outer rising surface 8b of the cam S. The jacks indicated with the reference characters 2:! are located at their operating positions at the operating station A. It will be noted that the outer surface 81) gradually approaches the axis of rotation of the pater-n wheel in a clockwise direction beyond the operating station A until the end 8k of the cam is reached, and when the springy members 6 turn beyond the end 8k of the cam 8 they are in their unstressed initial position shown in FIG. 4. The inner arcuate surface 8a holds the springy members 6 which have not passed through gap 10 during rotation of the pattern wheel.

Cam 9' has a second cam surface 917 engaging the butts 2 of the jacks 2 so as to move those jacks 2 which have been placed in their operating positions back to their inoperative position before the jacks 2 arrive at the selecting station shown at the left of FIG. 10 where the gap 19 is located. The cam surface 9b i shaped so as to gradually move the jacks 2 radially inwardly toward their inoperative positions so that all jacks are back in their inoperative positions when they reach the selecting station.

The cover 5 of FIGS. 9 and 10 is formed with an opening in which an electromagnet 16 is located, and a suitable bracket 16a is fixed to the top face of the cover 5 and carries the electromagnet is in the manner shown in FIG. 9. The electromagnet includes a pole shoe 17 which is located closely adjacent to the gap 10 between the latter and the axis of rotation of the pattern 7 wheel.- The "distance between the pole shoe 1 7 and the gapis slightly greater than the thickness of the springy Wire members 6, and the legs 6b pass along cam surface 9a to the region of pole shoe 17 as shown in FIG. 10. When the electromagnet 16 is energized, it attracts and holds back the springy free leg portions 6150f; the springy members 6 as they move by the gap 10 and prevent the end portions 60 from moving through the gap 1 10. Thus, those spring members 6 which are acted on by the electromagnet 16, 17 will not engage their corresponding jacks to move the latter outwardly to their operating positions. When the electromagnet 16 is not energized, nothing stops the springy legs 61) from moving with their free end portions Go through the gap 10, and the springy end portions fic of the members 6 released by cam. surface 94 at'the gap 10 will move therethrough so -a's-to engage the outer arcuate rising face Sbof thejcain 8"on which they" are guidedto an ad'- vanced position, as shown in FI G." 6; to move their corresponding jacks outwardly to their operating positions. Where the electromagnetic force required by-the structure isso great that a single eletcromagnet will be ofsuch-asize that it cannot'be operated with the desired frequency, then-in accordance with the present inven'-' tion a' plurality of small electromagnets may be used so that their total force provides the required power and at the same time these small magnets may be energized with the" necessary'frequency.

Of course, the invention is equally applicable to pattern arrangements where the carrier means instead of taking the form'of a carrier wheel havingradial grooves as describedhbove takes the form of a rotating carrier structure which supports the'jacksifor axial shifting movemeutbetwe'en'their operating and inoperative positions, or thearrangement may be such thatthe jacks are pivotally carried by the carrier means for turning movement withrespeet to the latter between their operating and 11 1- operative positions. Also, the jacks, instead of taking theform of plates maytake the form of pins.

In stead of providing a cam' 9b which acts on butts of, the jacks to return the latter from their operating to their inoperative positions, a second electromagnet may be provided to' act on the jacks in order to return the latter to their inoperative positions after they move beyond the operating station A. V

In the above-described structure the electromagnetic means 16, 17 operates indirectlyon the jacks. It is also possible to provide'an arrangement where the electromagnetic means acts directly on the jacks. The jacks must be moved through a distance on the order of 35 mm. between-their inoperative and operating positions. Where a single magnet is used to move a jack all the way through this distance, a relatively large amount of power is required since the movement of the jacks must take place in an extremly short period oftime. For example, in a'- circular knitting machine which as 1560 needles and which turns at a rate of 20 revolution per minute it is necessary for a jack to he moved from its inoperative to its operating-position in 0.002 second. Thus, at the selecting stationthe magnetis required to effect movement of a jack to its operating position in this extremely small period of. time. A magnet which is capable of moving 'a jack through the entire distance to its operating position-would have be of such a size that it is not possible for itto be energized or deenergized within the extremely smallperiod of time made necessary by the other factors.

It is, however, possible to provide at the selecting station a small magnet which directly acts on the jacks to initiate the movement 'of each jack toward its operating position; The magnet may move the selected jacks through only a relatively small fraction of the total distance required,'and then the butt 2 of the jack 2 will,

come into-engagement with" a cam similar to cam 8 at the-outer face'8b' thereof so as to be-moved in this way by a purely mechanical means through the remainder of the distance necessary for placing the jack in its operating position. Thus, an electromagnet may act directly on the jacks without the intermediary of springy members 6, and at the same time can be small enough to respond to the impulses with the desired frequency simply by only initiating the movement of the jack which after it has been moved to av slight distance from its inoperative position'comes into engagement with suitable cam means which efiect the movement of a selected jack; to its operating position and the return of the jack to its inoperative position. V g

It should be noted that with an arrangement as described above in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10 the power requirement of the magnet is so small th t t is easily possible to operatethe magnet at a frequency; which is much greater than 'thatwhich is required by the speed ofithe machine. I p p v 7 As shown in FIGS. 11, 12ian'd '13, instead of provid: ing springy members in the form of wires 6 to acton the needle infiuencing jacks, ity is also possible to provide rigid members 6% which arev pivotally carried by pins a clamped by a clamping ring. 7' of thepattern wheel respectively next to the inner endsof the.

associated jacks 2 and which are capable of. being turned so that these members 60b engage the jacks 2 along the entire height of their inner ends 2' to move the jacks 2 outwardly to their operatingpositions. Suitable wire pins 60a may be carriedby the pattern wheel in order to pivotally support the pivoted jack moving members 6050f such an arrangement. 'Such; jack moving mem bers 60b are located inthe same grooves 3 b in which the jacks 2 are located in order to' engage the inner ends 2' 0t thelatter, and these in'nejrends are suitably shaped so as to have a good contact with tongue-like moving members 6017. These tongue-like moving mem hers 69b are provided 'with end portions 60c in associa: tion with. cam means 8, 9" of thetype described above as schematically shown in FIG. 13, and the movement of the jacks is controlled'depending upon'whether or not the jack-moving members 60b, 60c move through the gap 10. At the gap 10 a magnet 16a, 17a is located also located at the gap '10 at the opposite side'thereof from the first magnet 16a, 17a and acts in opposition to the latter so that when the second magnet 116a is energized, the jack-moving members 60b, 600 will be moved through the gap 10 to engage the jacks 2 for moving the latter to their operating position. The firstmagnet 16a, 17a which acts on the pivotally supported jack moving members 60b so that they do not move through the gap 10 is located adjacent the 'gap 10 between the latter and the axis of rotation of the pattern wheel, while the second magnet 116a, 11Gb which moves the jack moving members 60b, 690 through the gap, is located adjacent the gap but on the side thereof remote from the axis of rotation of the pattern wheel.

Any suitable known programming means may be provided for controlling the moments when the electromagnets are energized in any of the above-described embodiment s of the invention. Thus, a Jacquard device may be used for this purpose, or any roll or band having the necessary pattern information registered thereon may be used. For example, impulses may be set into a magnetic tape which moves pasta suitable head which senses the impulses and energizes and deenergizes the electromagnets accordingly, or a'card or roll of papers or the like may be punched with suitable holes and a photoelectric arrangement may be provided according to which scribed above, or twoormore together, 'mayalsofind 9 a useful application in other types of pattern wheels dilfering from the types described above.

The invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in electrically controlled patterning arrangements for circular knitting machines, but is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit ofi the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a patterning arrangement for a circular knitting machine, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of needle-influencing elements carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and mounted on the same for movement between an inoperative position and an operating position; a plurality of moving members carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and being at least partly movable in radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of said carrier means from an inner position through an intermediate position to an outer end position, said moving members being respectively operatively connected with said needle-influencing elements for successively moving the same to said operating position thereof; cam means fixedly mounted on said support means and located adjacent said carrier means, said cam means including a first actuate cam and a second arcuate cam, said first and second cams defining a gap between each other, said movable members sliding along said first cam during rotation of said carrier means and being held by the same in said i lner position when arriving at said gap and then sliding along said second cam, said second cam having an inner arcuate cam surface for engaging said moving members in said inner position, and an outer arcuate cam surface having a first face portion adjacent said gap for engaging movable members in said intermediate position and a second face portion for guiding moving members to said outer end position; so that the respective correlated needle-influencing elements are moved to the operating positions there-oi; electro-magnetic means located adjacent said gap' and operatively connected to movable members passing said gap to cause movement of selected movable members through said gap to said intermediate position so that the selected moving members are engaged by said outer cam surface and moved to said outer end position while non-selected moving members are engaged by said inner cam surface and remain in said inner position; and return cam means disposed on said support means in the region of said first cam for engaging needleinfiuencing elements in said operating positions and for moving the same to said inoperative position before said needle-influencing elements and the respective correlated moving elements arrive at said gap during rotation of said carrier means.

2. In a patterning arrangement for a circular knitting machine, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of needle-influencing elements carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and mounted on the same for movement between an inoperative position and an operating position; a plurality of springy moving members carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and being partly movable in radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of said carrier means from an inner tensioned position through an intermediate position to an outer end position, said moving members being respectively operatively connected with said needle-influencing elements for successively moving the same to said operating position thereof; cam means fixedly mounted on said support means and located adjacent said carrier means, said cam means including a first arcuate cam and a second arcuate cam, said first and second cams defining a gap between each other, said movable members sliding along said first cam during rotation of said carrier means and being moved by the same to said inner tensioned position when arriving at said gap and then sliding along said second cam, said second cam having an inner arcuate cam surface for engaging said moving members in said inner position, and an outer arcuate cam surface having a first face portion adjacent said gap for engaging movable members in said intermediate position and a second face portion for guiding moving members to said outer end position; so that the respective correlated needle-influencing elements are moved to the operating positions thereof; electro-magnetic means located adjacent said gap outwardly of the same and of said outer cam surface, and including a movable blocking member having a first position located in said gap for closing the same and a second position retracted from said gap so that said movable members move onto said inner cam surface in said first position of said blocking member and resiliently pass through said gap to said intermediate position in said secend position of said blocking member to be engaged by said outer cam surface so that the selected moving members are engaged by said outer cam surface and moved to said outer end position while non-selected moving members are engaged by said inner cam surface and remain in said inner position; and return cam means disposed on said support means in the region of said first cam for engaging needle-influencing elements in said operating positions and for moving the same to said inoperative position before said needle-influencing elements and the respective correlated moving elements arrive at said gap during rotation of said carrier means.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said blocking member is a blocking lever turnably mounted on said support means for movement between said first and second positions, and including spring means operatively connected to said blocking lever for moving the same to said second position, said blocking lever moving to said first position when said electro-rnagnetic means is energized.

4. In a patterning arrongement for a circular knitting machine, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of needle-influencing elements carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and mounted on the same for movement between an inoperative position and an operating position; a plurality of springy moving members carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and being partly movable in radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of said carrier means from an inner tensioned position through an intermediate position to an outer end position, said moving members being respectively operatively connected with said needle-influencing elements for successively moving the same to said operating position thereof; cam means fixedly mounted on said support means and located adjacent said carrier means, said cam means including a first arcuate cam and a second arcuate cam, said first and second cams defining a gap between each other, said movable members sliding along said first cam during rotation of said carrier means and being moved by the same to said inner tensioned position when arriving at said gap and then sliding along said second cam, said second cam having an inner arcuate cam surface for engaging said moving members in said inner position, and an outer arcuate cam surface having a first face portion adjacent said gap for engaging movable members in said intermediate position and a second face portion for guiding moving members to said outer end position so that the respective correlated needle-influencing elements'are moved to the operating positions thereof; electromagnetic means; located adjacent said gap inwardly of the same and of said inner cam surface and magnetically connected to springy members passing said gap and permitting in de-energized condition selected springy members to pass through said gap and to resiliently assume isaid intermediate position, and attracting nonselected movable members to hold the same in said inner tensioned position until the same have passed beyond the gap and; onto said inner cam surface so that the selected moving members are engaged by said outer cam surface and moved to said outer end position while non-selected moving members are engaged by said inner cam surface and remain in said inner position; and return cam means disposed on said support means in the region of said first cam for engaging needle-influencing elements in said operating positions and for moving the same to said inoperative position before said needle-influencing elements and the respective correlated moving elements arrive at said gap during rotation of said carrier means.

5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said springy members are angular andhave a first leg secured to saidcar'rier means, and a second leg engaging the inner end of' the correlated needle-influencing element and terminating in an'end portion located at the level of said cam means for sliding along said cam surfaces, and wherein said springy members, are untensioned in said intermediate position, and resiliently tensioned in said inner position'and in said outer end position'so that said'springy members-return to said intermediate position when passing beyond the end of said second face portion'of said outer cam surface;

6. Ida patterningarrangement for a'circularknitting machine, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; aplurality of needle-influencing elements carriedrby said carrier means for'rotation therewith'andmounted'on the same for'movement between an inoperative position and an operating position; a plurality of'moving members 'pivotably mounted on said carrier means for rotation therewith and being 'pivotable'in radial direction withrespect to the axis of rotation 'of'saidcarrier means from an inner position through an intermediate position to an outer end position, said moving'members being respectively-operatively'conn'ected with said needle-influencingelementsfor successively moving the same to said operating position thereof; cam' means fixedly mountedon said support means and located 'adjacent'said carrier means; said cam means includinga first arcuate cam and a second arcuate cam, said-first'and second cams defining a'gap between each other,"said movablemembers sliding along said first cam-during rotation'of said carrier means and being held by the same in saidinnerposition whenarriving at said gap and then sliding along said second cam, said second cam having an inner arcuate cam surface for engaging said moving members in said. inner position, and an 'outer arcuate cam surface having a first face portion adjacent saidgap for engaging movable members in said inter mediate position and a second face portion for guiding moving members to said outer end positionso that the respective correlated needle-influencing elements are moved to the operating positions thereof; electromagnetic means located adjacent said gap, said electromagnetic means including a first electromagnet located inwardly of said gap and of said inner cam surface and a second electromagnet located'outwardly of said gap and of said outer cam surface, said second electromagnet being selectivelyenergized to attract-selected moving members for moving the same'through'said gap to said intermediate position, and saidfirst electromagnet being selectively energiZed to attract non-selected moving members to hold the same in said inner position until the same'have passed beyond the gap and onto said inner cam surface so'that the selected moving members are'engaged' by said outer cam-surface and moved to said outer endposition while non-selected moving members are engaged by said inner cam surface and remain in said inner position; and return cam means disposed onsaid support means in, the region of said first cam for engagingneedle-influencing elements in said operating positions and for moving the same to said inoperative position before said needleinfluencing elements and the respective correlated moving elements arrive at said gap during rotation of said carrier means.

7. In a patterning arrangement for a circular lmitting machine, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of needle-influencing elements "carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and mounted on the same for movement between an inoperative position and an operating position; a plurality of moving members movably car ried by said carriermeans for rotation therewith and respectively operatively connected with said needle-influencing elements for successively moving'the same to said operating position thereofwhen said moving members are,

moved with respect to saidcarrier means; cam. means fixedly mounted on said support means and located adjacent said carrier means for moving selected moving members during rotation of said carrier meanswith re spectto the latter so as to move the correlated'needleinfluencing elements to the operating positions thereof; and electromagnetic means located adjacent said carrier means for selecting the moving members which are to be moved by said cam means.

8. A patterning arrangement as set forth'in claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic means selects moving-members by efifecting movement of the same from an initial position to an intermediate position in which'the selected moving members are engaged by said cam means, said cam means having a rising cam surface for moving the selected moving members farther to an end position whereby the respective needle-influencing elements are moved: to said operating position.

9. A patterning arrangement as set forth in'c1aim 7, wherein said cam means has a circular portion following said rising cam surface in the direction of rotation of said'carrier means for rigidly holdingthe selected moving members in said end position and thereby said'needle influencing elements in said operating position.

10. A patterning arrangement'as set forth in claim 9, wherein said'cam means has an arcuate surface engaging on-selected moving members in said initial position forholding the same in said'initial-position duringrotation of said carrier means.

11.,A patterning arrangement as set forth in'claim 9; wherein said cam means includes another cam-portion; said other cam portion engagingduring rotation of said carrier means the selected'moving members in said end position for moving the same to said initial position before completion'of arevolution by said carrier means.

12. A patterning arrangement as set forth'in'claim 7, wherein said cam means includes a first cam portion and'a second cam portion defining a gap between each other; and wherein said electromagnetic means is located opposite said gap along the path of movement of said'moving members and selects moving members 'by causing movement of moving members passing said gap through said gap, said first cam portion having a rising cam surface adjacent said gap for moving selected moving members having passed through said gap to an end position for shifting the correlated needle-influencing elements to said operating position. 7 v 13. In a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines and the like, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a' plurality of springy members fined to said carrier means for rotation therewith and respectively having free'end' portions; cam means acting on saidjfree end portions of said springy members during rotation of said carrier means for tensioning said free end portions, said cam means being formed with a gap through which said free end portions move; an electromagnetic means located adjacent said gap along the path of movement of said free end portions of said springy members for acting on said free end portions to prevent the latter from moving through said gap when said electromagnetic means is energized; and a plurality of jacks respectively located in the path of movement of said free end portions when the latter move through said gap to be moved by said springy members from inoperative positions respectively toward operating positions, whereby by selectively energizing said electromagnetical means selected jacks may be moved toward their operating positions.

1 A patterning arrangement as set forth in claim 13 wherein said cam means include a cam portion located on one side of said gap for tensioning said springy members, and a rising earn surface located on the other side of said gap for engaging said free end portions of the springy members which have past through said gap during rotation of said carrier means, said rising cam surface moving said free end portions to a position in which the correlated jacks are in said operating position.

15. In a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines and the like, in combination, support means; carrier means turnably carried by said support means for rotation on said support means, said carrier means turning during each rotation past an operating station and a selecting station; a plurality of needle-influencing elements movably carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and for movement with respect thereto between inoperative and operating positions; control means including electromagnetic means located at said selecting station for controlling the movement of selected needle-influencing elements toward their operating positions so that when the selected needle-influencing elements reach th operating station they will influence a needle at said operating station; and return cam means acting on the selected needle-influencing elements while they turn with said carrier means during each rotation thereof from said operating station to said selecting station to return the selected elements from their operating to their inoperative positions so that a new selection may be made as all of the elements move by the selecting station.

16. A patterning arrangement as set forth in claim 15 and including a set of movable members on said carrier means and respectively located adjacent said needle-influencing elements for controlling movement of the same to said operating positions; and wherein said electromagnetic means control the movement of selected movable elements and thereby the movement of said needleinfluencing elements to said operating position.

17. A patterning arrangement as set forth in claim 16 and including cam means for holding selected movable members during rotation of said carrier means in a position in which the correlated needle-influencing elements are in said operating position while adapted to pass through an operating station.

18. In a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines or the like, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of springy members carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith, said spring members respectively having springy free end portions; cam means located adjacent said carrier means and acting on said free end portions of said springy members during rotation of said carrier means, said cam means having a gap and tensioning said free end portions of said members during rotation of said carrier means as said free end portions approach said gap so that the tensioned free end portion will move through said gap during rotation of said carrier means; electromagnetic means cooperating with said cam means for selectively closing and opening said gap so that only selected free end portions of said springy members will pass through said gap; and needleinfiuencing jacks movably arranged on said carrier means so as to be movable between inoperative operating positions, said jacks being respectively located in the path of movement of said free end portions when the latter move through said gap so that the selected free end portions will move selected jacks when the selected free end portions move through said gap, said springy members when their free end portions move through said gap moving said jackets from their inoperative positions respectively toward their operating positions.

19. In a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines and the like, in combination, support means; carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of springy members carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith, said springy members respectively having springy free end portions; cam means carried by said support means adjacent said carrier means and being formed with a gap, said cam means engaging and tensioning said free end portions as the latter approach said gap so that said free end portions will move through said gap when the latter is open; a blocking lever pivotal- 1y carried by said support means for turning movement through a relatively small angle between a position where a free end of said lever closes said gap and an open position where said free end of said lever is spaced from said gap to open the latter; means operatively connected to said lever for turning the same between its positions whereby in accordance with the position of said lever selected free end portions of said springy members will move through said gap; and a plurality of needle-influencing jacks movably carried by said carrier means for movement between inoperative and operative positions, said jacks being respectively located in the path of movement of said free end portions of said springy members as said free end portions move through said gap, so that those free end portions of said springy members which move through said gap will engage and move selected jacks toward their operating position.

20. In a patterning arrangement for circular knitting machines and the like, in combination, support means;

carrier means rotatably carried by said support means; a plurality of needle-influencing jacks movably carried by said carrier means for movement between inoperative and operating positions, respectively; a plurality of jack-moving members pivotally carried by said carrier means for rotation therewith and respectively located next to said jacks for moving the same toward their operating positions when said members are turned in a predetermined direction; and a pair of electromagnets operating counter to each other and located at a selecting station through which said jack-moving members move during rotation of said carrier means, one of said electromagnets turning said members when said one electromagnet is energized in a direction which moves the jacks respectively cooperating with the turned members toward their operating positions, respectively, and the other of said electromagnets when it is energized preventing the turning of said jack-moving members in a direction which moves said jacks toward their operating positions, so that the energizing and deenergizing of said electromagnets will cause selected jacks to move toward their operating positions.

No references cited. 

1. IN A PATTERNING ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORT MEANS; CARRIER MEANS ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS; A PLURALITY OF NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND MOUNTED ON THE SAME FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN OPERATING POSITION; A PLURALITY OF MOVING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND BEING AT LEAST PARTLY MOVABLE IN RADIAL DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CARRIER MEANS FROM AN INNER POSITION THROUGH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION TO AN OUTER END POSITION, SAID MOVING MEMBERS BEING RESPECTIVELY OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESSIVELY MOVING THE SAME TO SAID OPERATING POSITION THEREOF; CAM MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND LOCATED ADJACENT SAID CARRIER MEANS, SAID CAM MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST ACTUATE CAM AND A SECOND ARCUATE CAM, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CAMS DEFINING A GAP BETWEEN EACH OTHER, SAID MOVABLE MEMBERS SLIDING ALONG SAID FIRST CAM DURING ROTATION OF SAID CARRIER MEANS AND BEING HELD BY THE SAME IN SAID INNER POSITION WHEN ARRIVING AT SAID GAP AND THEN SLIDING ALONG SAID SECOND CAM, SAID SECOND CAM HAVING AN INNER ARCUATE CAM SURFACE FOR ENGAGING SAID MOVING MEMBERS IN SAID INNER POSITION, AND AN OUTER ARCUATE CAM SURFACE HAVING A FIRST FACE PORTION ADJACENT SAID GAP FOR ENGAGING MOVABLE MEMBERS IN SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION AND A SECOND FACE PORTION FOR GUIDING MOVING MEMBERS TO SAID OUTER END POSITION; SO THAT THE RESPECTIVE CORRELATED NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS ARE MOVED TO THE OPERATING POSITIONS THEREOF; ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID GAP AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO MOVABLE MEMBERS PASSING SAID GAP TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SELECTED MOVABLE MEMBERS THROUGH SAID GAP TO SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION SO THAT THE SELECTED MOVING MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED BY SAID OUTER CAM SURFACE AND MOVED TO SAID OUTER END POSITION WHILE NON-SELECTE MOVING MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED BY SAID INNER CAM SURFACE AND REMAIN IN SAID INNER POSITION; AND RETURN CAM MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN THE REGION OF SAID FIRST CAM FOR ENGAGING NEEDLEINFLUENCING ELEMENTS IN SAID OPERATING POSITIONS AND FOR MOVING THE SAME TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION BEFORE SAID NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS AND THE RESPECTIVE CORRELATED MOVING ELEMENTS ARRIVE AT SAID GAP DURING ROTATION OF SAID CARRIER MEANS. 